Tongariro National Park – all you need to know!
Over the course of the past years, we’ve been asked quite some times by New Zealand bound travelers what our spot on the North Island is. It’s a difficult choice as out of the twelve we have been to (there are fourteen in total) we have a special connection to all of them. However, if we would have to choose, we would pick Tongariro National Park. Why? Because it’s so different compared to the rest of New Zealand. It’s beautiful yet scary and completely different than the rest of the country. Join us on a virtual journey to one of the most amazing landscapes you will ever encounter!
Note that this post was first published in 2014 and updated in 2023 after our most recent visit to New Zealand.
Table of Contents | Inhoudsopgave
Tongariro National Park facts
Established in 1887, Tongariro National Park was New Zealand’s first National Park. It’s also one of the world’s 28 mixed cultural and natural Unesco Heritage Sites because of its outstanding natural features and cultural association with the Maori. You will definitely understand this when you are visiting.
Tongariro National Park (Tongariro means something as “being born in the bitter south wind”) is located in the center of the North Island. When you come driving from the north, which will be the case for most travelers, you have already passed plenty of green Hobbit-like hills. Then all of a sudden, Tongariro National Park will access your horizon far in the distance. The dark, snowcapped volcanoes will give you a great first impression of its grandeur that awaits you upon arrival.
Tongariro National Park was actually used as inspiration for the Lord of the Rings movies, where Mount Ngauruhoe featured as Mount Doom and several scenes were shot in the Rangipo Desert, which is part of the park. Three volcanoes dominate the park: Mount Ruapehu, Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro, which are pictured from right to left on the picture below. Especially from up close, they looks dangerous and they are! In 2012 Mount Tongariro erupted and caused the area to close for a while.
Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
The first time we were in New Zealand, back in 2002, we didn’t visit Tongariro National Park. We weren’t much into hiking yet, otherwise we would never have skipped this as it’s a true hikers paradise. New Zealand’s most famous day hike is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and although you will not be the only one on this famous tramp, it’s very much worth it. Trust us!
Once you’ve decided to do this hike, make sure you realize that it’s an alpine hike, meaning you will need to have at least some hiking experience. What’s really important to remember, is that the crossing is subject to weather. Many days each year Department of Conservation will advice not to set off because of the poor weather conditions. Those weather conditions may not always look bad from far away, but as we experienced ourselves, even on a sunny day the winds can be killing. So therefore, always check with DOC before setting off, their office is at the Whakapapa Visitor Center, the park’s main place for resources.
While we were there we found out that many people had been waiting for days already to get out. Quite some had to leave disappointed as their itinerary forced them to move on. If you are determined to do this hike, plan a couple of extra days in and/or around Tongariro National Park, leaving some space for poor weather conditions.
The natural features are amongst the best we have seen and the variety is amazing. Just imagine rocks in all kinds of red and orange colors, alpine lakes that are emerald, blue and green and of course the volcanoes that will give you a feeling of being in a dead land. Tongariro National Park definitely did not leave us disappointed.
Read my full post about the Tongariro Crossing here.
A long alternative is the Tongariro Northern Circuit 4 day trek, which you can read about in this blog.
Other things to know about Tongariro National Park
If you are not planning on doing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing or the Northern Circuit, there are plenty of other short walks around the park that will give you a great feeling of its unique natural features. You can see waterfalls, explosion craters and of course the volcanoes. You can find an online brochure of all walks on the Department of Conservation website.
If Tongariro National Park is in your trip itinerary, the best way to get there is by rental car. You may also travel by bus but this is way more inconvenient as you are best off driving for getting around.
Whakapapa is the main village but we didn’t find it very attracting. Instead, we stayed in National Park Village, at the National Park Backpackers. There were no real facilities here but the views from the campsite are just stunning. When the skies cleared, we had perfect views of all three volcanoes in the distance. When you have finished hiking, make sure you will go and have dinner at The Station, where we had some of the best food of our whole six week trip. Groceries and gas are best bought in Turangi, about 50 kilometers away from Whakapapa. Otherwise you will have to shop at the gas station, which turns out to be rather expensive.
Find rental car deals here.
Find bus deals to Tongariro National Park here.
Find accommodations around Tongariro National Park here.
Conclusion and disclaimer
And when you are finally ready to leave this dark yet inspiring land behind and you are traveling further south, make sure you will drive the Desert Road. It’s an unforgiving and lonely ride that will make you feel like you are actually in Mordor, a place where nothing lives and a lot is dark, just like in the movies.
I have been to New Zealand five times over the past years and hope to return in 2024. It’s definitely one of my favorite hiking destinations in the world.
Want to read more? You may also enjoy the following posts:
Alternatively, make sure to check my New Zealand homepage for more than 50 blogs about active travel in New Zealand.
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19 Comments
Karlijn
Mooie blog en prachtige foto’s! Maar de jaloezie overheerst ;). De Tongariro Crossing is echt een beetje mijn ‘reistrauma’: de eerste keer in Nieuw-Zeeland liep ik ‘m niet, omdat ik alleen was en het niet zag zitten om in mijn eentje te gaan. En de tweede keer liepen we ‘m wel (na dagen wachten op droog weer), maar zeilden de wolken na honderd meter de bergen in. We hebben in de regen, snoeiharde wind en dichte mist 20 kilometer gelopen. Gevaarlijk en we hebben niets gezien. We zagen pas een turquoise meertje toen we er met onze neus op stonden, en alleen omdat de mist een halve minuut opentrok. Grrr! Ik moet nog eens een reisje bedenken waar de Crossing in te passen valt. Revenge!
Groet, Karlijn
anto
Ohhh ja ik voel met je mee, wij hebben ook dat soort trauma’s (soort van, dan). Het is altijd jammer als zoiets moois zich niet aan je laat zien maar ik ben er inmiddels wel uit dat je niet alles kunt hebben. Zo heeft het mij 3 reizen naar Alaska gekost om Mt. McKinley (hoogste berg van Noord-Amerika) te kunnen zien. Maar dat maakt het reizen door bergachtige landen ook wel weer leuk, fris weer is beter voor een fikse wandeling dan bedwelmende hitte. Hopelijk ga je nog eens naar NZ en lukt het je de Crossing te lopen!!
Serena
Amazing!!
I’m actually daydreaming about NZ these days, and with this post you’ve made me daydream even more 🙂
…Really, people was doing this hike with flip-flops??
LOL, maybe they thought that if Hobbits could have made it barefoot, flip-flops could have been okay 😀
anto
Well it’s certain nationalities that think they can do anyting without gear… but then again, if Hobbits can do it … LOL. I actually day dream about NZ all the time … happy dreaming! LOL 😀
Hannah
Looks like a great adventure! Can’t believe people would wear flipflops though!
Wandering Educators
What an incredibly gorgeous place – I’ve always wanted to visit NZ!
Ashley @ A Southern Gypsy
Absolutely gorgeous photos! Can’t wait to get to NZ!
SJ @ Chasing the Donkey
I am an Aussie, and I am sad to say I never made to it NZ before I moved to Croatia – I must see how I can work that in 🙂 STUNNING photos.
Jessica | A Passion and A Passport
HOLY MOLY amazing! WOZA! I want to go there NOW! right now!
IntrovertlyBubbly
Those pictures are plan gorgeous. The little fact on Lord of the Rings I did not know and that meal looks deliciously divine…
Lindsay
So beautiful! Firstly, wow that y’all were able to get to 10 of New Zealand’s 14 national parks! Amazing! Second, I really wanted to go to Tongariro when we were in New Zealand. I had heard rumors that it was the best day hike in the world! Unfortunately, short on time, we stuck with the South Island mostly (with the exception of time in Auckland), with the promise to ourselves that we would come back! Now, I’m wishing we had spent some more time here! We really liked the south island though. Aoraki/Mt. Cook, Arthur’s Pass, Fiordland (esp Milford) national parks. So beautiful. I want to live in NZ. Maybe one day!
Cathy
Beautiful photos, makes me want to go even more!
anto
Thanks Cathy!
Shere
We did an alternative and longer hike than the usual one as the last part of it was closed due to volcanic activity. They told us it would be 22km but my gps watch said it was over 26km!! All in all it was a great experience
anto
Ah yes … don’t walks always turn out to be longer than they appear … happy to hear you had a good time though!
Nate Yarbrough
Awesome! The diversity of the Alpine environments and the beaches is why I want to go to NZ! Soon!
anto
Go! You’ll totally love it 🙂
Sanne
Wauw! Wat een leuk blog heb je en hele fijne posts over Nieuw Zeeland en Patagonië! Twee plekken die bovenaan ons lijstje staan. Jammer dat ik je niet heb kunnen zien in Val di Fassa om je uit te vragen 😉 Zodra ik ga plannen kom ik zeker weer even op je blog terug!
anto
Thanks! Ja ik vond het echt zo jammer dat ik niet mee kon! Hopelijk hebben jullie het leuk gehad. Ik ga je blog snel checken en als je vragen hebt over Nieuw-Zeeland en/of Patagonië, dan weet je mij te vinden!